Flood Warnings Ignored as Lagos, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Kaduna, Others Brace for Disaster

As the peak of Nigeria’s rainy season draws near, fears of another round of devastating floods loom large across the country. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) have issued repeated alerts, warning that dozens of states and local government areas remain at high risk.

Concerns are further heightened by the planned release of excess water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam, coupled with continuous heavy rainfall.

Flooding is no new threat to Nigerians. The disasters of 2012, 2022, and 2023 displaced hundreds of thousands, wiped out livelihoods, and left painful scars. Yet, despite the lessons of those tragedies, many residents in high-risk areas continue to resist evacuation orders, citing poverty, lack of alternatives, and fears of property theft.

From Sokoto to Bayelsa, Kogi to Anambra, the pattern remains the same: government agencies prepare with IDP camps, sensitisation campaigns, and drainage works, but citizens remain reluctant to leave. Experts warn that such defiance could once again turn early warnings into yet another “we told you so” moment.

State-by-State Updates:

• Akwa Ibom: Despite early warnings, parts of Uyo and Itu LGAs were submerged in July. Governor Umo Eno ordered new control measures but residents lament a “reactive approach.”
• Benue: Communities around River Benue remain vulnerable. While the state government is running sensitisation campaigns, many residents say they will not move until displaced.
• Anambra: Governor Chukwuma Soludo activated 16 IDP shelters and deployed a digital flood monitoring system, but many still resist relocation.
• Edo: Governor Godwin Obaseki’s “Clean Edo” campaign has cleared drains and relief centres are open, yet residents remain reluctant to evacuate.
• Bayelsa: ₦450m allocated for relief, with IDP camps across 15 LGAs. Some residents, however, are living in makeshift shelters rather than relocate.
• Kaduna: Large-scale dredging of River Kaduna is underway, with seven “Safe Haven” shelters stocked. Still, resistance to relocation persists.
• Kogi: With nine LGAs at high risk, 42 IDP camps have been prepared for over 250,000 people, but officials say compliance is unclear.
• Lagos: Heavy rains recently caused over ₦150m in losses for fish farmers. Despite warnings, residents of Lekki, Ikorodu, and Ajegunle remain in floodplains. Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab warned of tidal lock and urged cooperation.
• Delta, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kebbi, Plateau, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, and others: While governments are dredging rivers, clearing drains, and setting up relief measures, residents’ refusal to relocate remains a recurring theme.

Across Nigeria, billions of naira are being spent on flood prevention—drainage desilting, dredging, and relief supplies. Yet experts stress that without stronger enforcement, permanent solutions like dredging major rivers, building embankments, and resettling communities, the nation risks repeating its tragic flood cycle.

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